Mar 3, 2014

Tommeke: The Rise of the Flandrien & The New Flandrien Cycling Cap

The early classic season racing is well under way... fit for a Flandrien.

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad was a classic mano-a-mano battle to the line with Ian Stannard outsprinting Grey van Avermaet.

Today, Tom Boonen emerged from a 10-man group, including 4 Omega Pharma teammates, took control and blasted to his first win of his classics season. He did so in dramatic fashion. As the pace revved high by his teammates until the last meters where only the young Moreno Hofland could offer a decent challenge.

Post race class:

Tom Boonen wearing the cycling cap

photo Cycling Art

Tornado Tom is the first 3-time winner of Kuurne Brussels Kuurne, in fact, Belgian riders have made this Belgian classic their own with 51 victories. This exciting race was cancelled three times due to bad weather. It's well known, Flandrien cyclists take self-sacrifice and grim suffering as a religion. A rite of passage to endure not only the foulest of weather but bad roads and hills strewn with pave with the one goal... to win. Last year it was cancelled due to snow... too bad, as if it could really stop the Flandriens!